Henderson cites water issues, stronger community bond as platform in council run

As a candidate for Gardena City Council, Henderson believes that focusing on simple things to improve the city, will make for happier, healthier residents.

One of the big items on his platform is the environment, specifically the issue of municipal water. One of the things Henderson wants to tackle once in office is the recent occurrence of black sludge that has been spewing from the faucets of several Gardena homes.

The city gets its water from the Golden State Water Company and Henderson has pledged to engage and maintain constant contact with the water provider so that the issue of the black sludge can be resolved as quickly as possible. In addition, Henderson said once in office, he will move to implement countermeasures to ensure that it never happens again.

The other big issue in Henderson’s platform is that of human connection. Henderson wants to instill feelings of civic pride among Gardena residents as well as civic responsibility so that residents can feel a stronger bond with the city they choose to call home.

“In talking to various neighbors in all parts of the city,” Henderson said, “they feel like there’s just not a connection so my goal is to actually start instilling more civic pride in everybody and have people know that we are Gardena.”

One of the ways that Henderson hopes to achieve this feeling of connectedness is through the expansion of existing senior housing programs and existing youth programs such as STEM clubs and athletic programs.

Getting the public safety agencies on board with those ideas such as the Gardena Police Fire departments will be a major step in making those ideas a reality, according to Henderson.

Henderson is no stranger to politics. He has served on the City of Gardena Planning Commission from 2010 to 2012 and prior to that, had served on the City of Gardena Rent Mediation Board, where he worked with both tenants and landlords to ensure civil conflict resolutions.

Henderson currently serves as a board member to the PV Jobs Initiative, a program that places students, at-risk youth, adults, and veterans in career-track employment in construction and other industries. He also heads up Brothers, Inc. , a leadership program for African-American and Latino males.

Henderson says that one of the great things about Gardena is its safe, positive atmosphere. Having raised all four of his children in the city he has called home for the past 20 years, Henderson believes that Gardena is one of the best cities in California, especially for those with a family.

However, the city is not without its faults, as Henderson says that the city needs someone who can help residents make connections. He says creating better symmetry and collaboration between the community and the city will be his goal as a councilmember.